Page 102 of Under the Lion Star

“You have me here,” I held my hands out. “Let her go.”

“I’m afraid things are more complicated since you decided to involve my son,” Gamril looked over my shoulder toward the mausoleum entrance. “No doubt he is waiting in the wings. At your beck and call as always.”

“Unlike you, your son understands loyalty.”

Gamril chuckled, shaking his head. He looked down at Zialda before returning his eyes to mine and giving an apologetic smile.

“Loyalty that will be his demise, I’m afraid,” his frown turned mocking. “Pity. I had always hoped he’d end up with some value.”

“I’m sure he hoped the same of you.”

“Even now, you’re mouthy,” Gamril shook his head. “Always the arrogant one. Just like your mother, refusing to see reason. Funny that it will be your undoing as well.”

“Why did you betray them?” I asked, keeping my focus on Gamril.

All I needed was to buy time until Zialda realized the gift I’d brought her. She was clever, but she was scared. I could only hope that Gamril’s love of speaking about how much better he was than everyone else would last long enough for Z to catch on.

“They wanted the war to end,” he shrugged. “It would have hurt my bottom line.”

“Simple as that?”

“It usually is. You could have been a great king, Leor. If only you had stayed in the castle instead of running to play soldier with Atlas. You missed all the true lessons and instead had your head filled with ideas of duty and honor.”

“As opposed to treachery and deception?”

I shifted on my feet, hoping to guide Zialda’s focus downward.

“Don’t be so dramatic,” he chuckled.

My eyes moved over Zialda’s frame. Lingering just a moment on the slight bulge at her hip. Nima had told me they both took a vial with them. Their aunt had ensured they were all accustomed to keeping it on their person wherever they went.

Zialda’s brows pinched slightly. Her eyes trailed over me, widening when she saw the mud I had caked onto my boots. Darting her focus back onto my face, those silver orbs lit up. I almost laughed aloud for never realizing that they were the same as her brothers.

Her hands, still bound behind her back, shifted to her side, and she tapped over the vial, showing me it was within her reach.

That’s my girl.

“The serpent suits you,” I tipped my chin to the crest on Gamril’s doublet, the crimson snake wrapped around a blue sword.

“The realm is full of all manner of serpents,” he mused. “But vipers are their own class. Most successful when their prey has no idea that they’re even there. Silently waiting, watching, planning. And, most importantly, seizing the opportunity to make the perfect strike.”

Zialda’s fingers slowly worked under the sash around her hips. I knew I could count on her. She didn’t need to be rescued. A lesson I had learned early on. I couldn’t wait to watch her further blossom into her confidence.

“Then let us hope your daughter has a bit of that viper in her.”

Chapter 35

Zialda

Muddy fucking boots.

I wanted to laugh the second I realized what Leor had done. Loose bits of dirt marked the path he took into the mausoleum, but even still, there was a conspicuous amount coating his shoes. I struggled to keep my face neutral, not wanting the guard that held Leor captive to notice the silent conversation taking place between me and my husband.

I didn’t bother to concern myself with the fact that more guards patrolled outside. Leor clearly had a plan, and given Atlas was absent, I could only imagine what he was up to.

Leor had a knack for recognizing a person’s strengths. He’d laid a trap to utilize them. I wanted to kiss his stupid, smug face, so grateful that he had finally stopped trying to do everything independently.

The only issue with my part of the plan was the distance between us and the fact that my hands were bound. I could reach the vial, and uncorking it wouldn’t be an issue, but I would need to be fairly accurate in my aim if I wanted enough of the powder to mix with the dirt Leor had brought for me.

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